Upward and downward communications are the two important types of internal communication. Both upward and downward communications are essential for smooth functioning of organizational activities. In both types, information flows vertically within the organization. However, there are some clear distinctions between them. Some of the major differences are as follows:

From the above discussion, it is clear that in upward and downward communication, information flows in two different directions. Superiors initiate downward communication while subordinates initiate upward communication.